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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 



REPORT 



OF THE 



Sii]]emteBbl of h\h iBslruclioa 



ON THE onOANIZATION OF THE 



i^. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, 



HISTORICAL BUREAU, 



AND THE 



CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 



OF THE STATE. 



C. THURSTON CHASE, 

8ITPKRINTKNDENT OF' PTJBLIC IN8TRUCTI0H, TALLAHASSEE. 



TALLAHASSEE, FLA.: 
Printed at the office of the Tallahassee sentinel. 



1869. 






Office of Superinte^dej^tt of VvblIc Insteuctiojst, ) 
Tallahassee^ Fla.^ January Qth^ 1869. J 

To His Excellency Harrison JReed, Governor: 

. I have the honor to hand you herewith my Report, together 
with suggestions on the organization of the Department of 
Public Instruction, the Historical Bureau, and the Cabinet of 
N-atural History of the State. 

Very respectfully, 

C. Thukston Chase, 
Superintendent Public Instruction. 



UG 20 »M6 



KEP»ORT 

OF THE 

Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

o 

Two years after tlie admission of Florida into tlie Federal 
Union, the Legislature jiassed an act authorizing the establish- 
ment of a liberal system of common schools. This was soon af- 
terwards rei)caled without being put into operation. Another 
was passed, which has since undergone various changes. It did 
MOt provide for free schools, nor impose any tax on property or 
persons lor the support of schools. The school funds arose 
chiefly from the sale of lands donated to the State by the gen- 
eral government. Tlie interest available for common schools 
never amounted to fifty cents a year each, to those who were 
entitled to its benefits under the law. 

The act to establish common schools, etc., approved January 
1, 1853, provides as folloAVs: 

Sec. 2. " That it shall be the duty of the Tax Assessor of each 
eounty, at the time of assessing the taxes of his county, to take 
the census of all tlie children of the county between the ages of 
five and eighteen years, and if any of them be deaf mutes, that 
lie so state, and report tlie same on oath to the County Superin- 
tendent on or before the first day of June next, and each and 
every year thereafter ; for Avhich said service he sliall receive 
five cents for each child reported to the County Superintendent ; 
.and, upon failure of the Tax Assessor to perform the duties 
lierein and above required, he shall forfeit the sum of fifty dol- 
lars, to be deducted from the sum which the County Commis- 
sioners may allow him for assessing and collecting the taxes of 
liis county." 

No such enumeration Avas taken during the last year in the 
several counties, and it was presumed, that some Assessors might 
not be fuUv apprised of this part of their duty. Their attention 
was callcd'to the above section on the 22d of Sej^tember by a 
^-ircular from this Department. 

TirK SEMINAKIES. 

The act establishing two Seminaries, approved January 24, 
1851, declares that their first purpose " should be the instruc- 
tion of persons, both 7uale and female, in the art of teaching 
all the various branches that pertain to a good common school 
education :" and next : 



" To give such instruction in the mechanic arts, in husbandry, 
and agricultural chemistry, in the fundamental laws, and in what 
regai'ds the rights and duties of citizens. 

"Each county shall be entitled to send pupils in the ratio that 
it sends Representatives to the State Legislature — not to exceed 
such number as the Board may prescribe. 

" Said Seminaries shall be under the direction of a Board of Ed- 
ucation," etc. 

The Constitution of the State declares that the " Legislature 
shall provide a uniform system of Common Schools and a Uni- 
versity, and shall j^rovide for the liberal maintenance of the same. 
Instruction in them shall be free." 

The annual income of the Seminary fund uniounts to about six 
thousand dollars. This is divided equally between the two 
Seminaries, it is apparent that neither of these institntions can 
be conducted as free schools on so small an income. The use of 
the Seminary buildings has been allowed to private parties to 
conduct schools temporarily until some further provision can be 
made by the Legislature for their support, according to the 
terms of the Constitution. 

PKEPAKATOBY WOKK. 

Coxinty Superintendents have been requested to ascertain the 
number of persons in their respective counties who, being enti- 
tled, would like to avail themselves of the benefits of the Semi- 
nary fund, They were also advised " to make such inspection in 
their respective counties as will enable them to judge where 
schools should be started, and to ascertain the circumstances in 
each case. 

First. The probable number of youth who would attend. 

Second. The size and condition of school house, if any. Fur-^ 
niture on hand. 

Third. Expense of erecting a suitable school building. 

Fourth. Amount that the people of the neighborhood would 
contribute in money, labor, or lumber, towards the construction 
of a school house where one is needed. 

Fifth. Amount that they would pledge and secure toward? 
the payment of one or more teachers' wages — as they might re- 
quire." 

This was done in order that they might be prepared to act fit 
the earliest moment practicable. 

Communications received from them express a desire to cO' 
operate, most cordially, when their duties shall be defined by 
law. 

OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF OrENING SCHOOLS. 

While the new Constitution provides that the Common Schoolsi 



and tlic University sliould bo tree of cliarge ior instruct ion, and 
while the funds were insutticient to make them free, and especially 
while tlie income of the Common Scliool Fund eouhl not be dis- 
bursed for the Avant of the data on Avhich tlie law prescribes thy 
apportionment shall be made, it is apparent that the schools could 
not properly be opened. 

The principals of both the Seniinary and Common bchool lunda 
were expended during the war in " the purchaijieof arms, ammu- 
nition, and for other purposes." But the State, recognizing its 
oblit'-ations as custodian of these sacred triists, will see that an 
amount be paid annually to these funds eqnal to that which 
would have arisen from the principals had they not been ab- 
gorbed. 

TEACIIEKS AT WOKK. 

It is proper to speak, in passing, of three classes of schools in 
which the teachers have shown much true devotion. They are ; 
First. Private schools conducted by persons of either race. 
The teachers have been poorly paid, yet many have contimied 
their schools wdien they did not receive sufficient compensation 
to pay their board. Such earnest devotion should be remem- 
bered when there are funds to pay good teachers with. 

Second. Schools opened under the auspices of the State. Ac- 
cording to anthority of the act to "establish common schools 
for freedmen," the superintendent of these schools purposed 
paying at least twelve dollars a month to each teacher Mhile 
engaged; but the failure to collect the capitation tax on freed- 
m«i,^left him Avithout means to pay them. Many teachei-s 
have continued their Avork until they A\'ere driven from it, 
into other callings, to earn their daily bread. 

Measures have been taken to ascertain the names and length 
of time persons Avere engaged in this manner, agreeably to the 
joint resolution of the Legislature at the summer session. Par. 
tial returns have been received; Avhen complete they Avill be laid 
before you. There is at least a moral obligation on the part of 
the State to carry out the pledges originally made to this class 

of teachers. i. -v-r i 

Third. Schools conducted under the auspices of ISiorthern 
benevolent associations. Numbers of the ladies who assumed 
the duties of teachers, Avere persons of Avealth and high social 
positions at home. Coming at a time Avhen the freed children 
were cast suddenly at the threshold of a ncAV life, unused to the 
responsibilities and ignorant of the duties thus thrust upon 
them, they Avere Avelcomed Avith great joy, and labored with 
sincere christian devotion, amidst hardships and privations. 
The teachers have changed, but most of the schools are still 
maintained, 



Wo have scon tlic labors of the true tcaciicr reaching out 
and benefiting tlie fireside, tlie work-shop, and tlic plantation. 
Honest, earnest labor, rightly l^stowed, is never lost. It may 
inect opposition, as it often does, but it wins at last. 

PUBIJC SEKTIMENT. 

There is very great satisfaction in noticing the evidences 
that the public Riind is in favor of universal education. At a 
convention of the Educational Association of Florida, held at 
Tallahassee, in iseV, the "Committee on the Education of our 
Colored Population" reported, through their chairman, D. S. 
Walker, then Governor of the State, that " some of our most 
respected white ladies and gentlemen in the State have taken 
positions in those scliools, and besides the approval of a good 
<5onscience, feel that they have rather gained than lost social 
position by so doing. There is not a good man or M'oman in 
the State that does not feel the obligation of this high duty." 
The report concluded by " commending this great work to every 
christian and patriot in the land." 

In the attempt to establ'sh common schools, there will neces- 
sarily be some diflerences, but if the work be met in the spirit 
of enlarged })hilanthropy, as expressed in the above quotation, 
and characterized by mutual foi'bearance and a sincere desire 
for the good of each other, that which would otherwise be a 
most arduous and difficult task, will become the most interest- 
ing, replete with the liappiest results to the State. 

AID FROM THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND BENEVOLENT AS^O- 
CIAITONS FOR FREEDMEn's SCHOOLS. 

As the Legislature did not complete the passage of the school 
bill which claimed its consideration at the former session, and 
as it was apparent, after an examination of existing statutes on 
the subject, that the officers design^ed by the Constitution, 
and charged with the supervision and management of the edu- 
cational interests, could not properly enter upon the 
work of organizing public schools, the Superintendent 
of Public Instruction, by the concurrence of the 
Governor, embraced the opportunity which was thus 
afforded to visit other States, to inspect the workings 
of their school systems, and to endeavor to procure the speedy 
•expenditure of as much as ])ossible of the appropriation by the 
general government to this State for the construction and re- 
pair of school houses. Tliis sum amounted to about seventy- 
live thousand dollars, in three annual appropriations, less than 
one-third of which had expended. It was also ascertained that 
the teachers who had been engaged under the auspices of bC'^ 



nevolcnt associations liad mostly been withdrawn, ;uul that the 
project of erecting a bnihling for the accommodation of a nor- 
mal school had been abandoned. 

The first eftbrt was direct-ed towards procuring an immediate 
expenditure of the appropriation of the general government. 
The next was to induce other benevolent associations to revive 
the schools that had been discontinued. IJotli of these objects 
were attained. The government appropriation is being rapidly 
expended in a judicious and proper manner. The normal 
school building is being constructed. An additional endow- 
ment of six thousand dollars has been granted to it. Benevo- 
lent associations have undertaken to reopen and continue the 
closed schools, and to sustain the normal school until the State 
can assume its charge and support Avholly or in part. It is also 
gratifying to state that private individuals of wealth have given 
pledges of substantial aid. The amount expended and donated 
by these several agencies' during the present school year in the 
State will exceed forty thousand' dollars. 

ORGANIC FREE SCHOOL Sl'S'JEM, 

The question of organic school law transcends all others in im- 
portance that can claim the attention of this department. I 
have therefore made the study of the difterent school systems of 
the older States the subject of most earnest consideration, and 
embraced every opi:)ortunit;y to confer with eminent educators 
and school officers on the workings of the several laws, to ascer- 
tain the strong and weak points. Much might be written on the 
merit and demerits of the different systems. But instead of adopt- 
ing that course, I applied myself to making a careful digest of 
the most approved systems of the older States, and conferred 
freely with prominent superintendents of schools and eminent 
educators on the practical workings of these systems, and have 
embodied the result of these investigations in a bill which will 
be submitted to the Legislature when desired. It is jDroper to 
state, however, that the framework of the sehool law of this 
State has been adopted as the basis for the above system. The 
changes in outline are but few, and the detail is made to corre- 
spond with the machinery of the existing laws to a considerable 
extent. It is far more comprehensive, yet simple and eflective 
in its provisions and economical in its financial features. 

The objections urged against the systems of the older States 
were that they too are cumbersome, difiuse, unwieldy, and ex- 
pensive* All these objections have been obviated as far as pos^ 
sible. 

The school is the link in our civil system which connects the" 
State with the family. The provisions of any school act should ^ 



therefore, he eminently just, aiul soplnin tli.it tliey in;iy be read- 
ily eompreliended by the common mind. Many matters of im- 
|)ortance "will arise liilder its operutionsi Good school houses^ 
Well located, and nicely furnished; competent teachers, frequent 
inspection and judicious supervision of th^ir Avork ; the co-opera- 
tion of the citizens, and the adjustment of ditticulties, all recpiire 
candid, competent men, who liave an innate love for education. 
To im|)art iniity to the whole system, there must be some respon- 
sible head, who shall thoroughly identify himself with the educa- 
tional interests of every neighborhood and Avatch over them 
with constant assiduity; 

Before life and vigor can be infus9d into any — the best sys- 
tem, there mnst be liberal provision for meeting the expenses as 
they arise. Nothing should be done on state or county orderSi 
Money in hand, with constant emjjloyment offered, will secure 
the services of the best of teachers. Their duties are arduous 
and their tasks are often the most exacting. They should be 
paid liberally according to the value of their services. 

No subject presents such strong demends upon the wisdom of 
the Legislatui'e as the education of the youth of the State. The 
taxes which must necessarily be imposed may seem onerous at 
iirst, and may sometimes operate unfairly. But when we con- 
sider the enormous sums raised and expended in other StateiSj 
the demands upon the wealth of Florida will be trifling. New- 
York expends annually upon her schools $5,000,000 ; Pennsyl- 
vania $3,500,000; Ohio |3,000,000.' Other States come fully 
up to these figures proportionately. As the expense of starting 
the work involves the Construction of school houses and the pur- 
chase of books, furniture, &c., it is suggested that a, loan be 
ihade for the purposes of education, payalole at some future day, 
when the youth who shall have enjoyed its blessings have en- 
tered upon the active duties of life, and may then share the bur- 
den, most cheerfully, of the expense by which they were ena- 
bled to take exalted positions in business, in Society, or in State. 

THE ORPHANS A^B THE STATE. 

There are thousands of children in the State who are left ut- 
terly friendless and dependent by the incidents of emancipation 
or the sad casualties of civil strife. These should be looked after 
with tender solicitude. To leave them in their ignorance would 
be to abandon tliem to grope their way along a dark and dan- 
gerous path, where the finest spirits might waste their energies 
in fruitless endeavors to rise, where the most would never aspire, 
or, attempting, would finally sink beneath an accumulating 
weight of discouragements. But the State, by laying hold on 
the hand of the poor and ignorant child, can prepare him for a 



lite olusc-rulncss and ri'spcctability. The lueu of vast wealtli In 
Ainericu are, Avith vovy few exceptions, tli )se avIio were born iu 
]>overty ; and the highest offices of tlie nation are filled with 
those who started in the race at the public school. A State can 
never know how much it loses in the undeveloj)ed talent of its 
neglected children. If proj^crly trained they may become the 
chief pillars of her strength. J5ut there can be no assured peace, 
no guarantee of security to private rights and interests, no 
pledgO of continued prosperity nor perpetuity to popular gov- 
ernment, Avhere the constituencies on which it rests are left to 
settle down into permanent ignorance and unmitigated deprav- 
ity, as these must do unless the strong ai'm of the State goes 
down to their rescue. 

AID fro:m tiik general government. 

liefore closing this portion of my communication, I beg leave 
to invite your attention to a movement which is on foot in sev- 
eral of the Southern States. The object of it is to secure the co- 
operation and aid of the general government in establishing 
common and normal schools in these States on an enlarged and 
impartial basis. Petitions are being circulated, and receive the 
signatures of all classes. The object is so wise, and the stricken 
condition of these States is such that it is believed the project 
will meet with favor in Congress. The measiire might be 
strengthened by some legislative attention to the subject. 

The other duties devolved on the Superintendent of Public 
Instruction have received his careful attention. He has embraced 
very favorable opportunities of obtaining information on the or- 
ganization of a Historical Bureau and a Bureau of Natural His- 
tory. The results of those inquiries are embodied in the following 
remarks : 

HISTORICAL BUREAU. 

The Constitution provides that the Superintendent of Public 
Instruction " shall organize a Historical Bureau for the purpose 
of accumulating such matter and information as may be necessary 
for compiling and perfecting the history of the State." 

The materials for a history of the State eicist in various forms, 
and ar6 widely scattered. Florida assimied a prominent posi- 
tion in the early history of this continent. The events that 
transpired at that period, together with the traditions of the ab- 
original inhabitants are rapidly disappearing under the accumu- 
lating dust of time. No portion of the Union has experienced a 
morervaried and, in some respects, highly interesting recoi'd. By 
its connection with the governments of the old world, a portion 
of its liistory can only be traced out from the documentary evi- 
dence in the archives of those nations. Other portions are 



10 

matters of reoord in the puLlic offices of tlie State and tlie L'uited 
States. They are in the languages of ditierent nationalities, and 
require thorough investigation by earnest and competent histo- 
rians. Some valuable works are extant on this subject, but 
none are exhaustive. It is respectfully suggested that the Leg- 
islature make such appropriation as may enable the Superinten- 
dent to execute the work imposed upon him. 

BUREAU OF NATURAL UISTORY. 

The further duty is imposed on the Superintendent of Public 
Instruction, of organizing a Bureau of Natin-al History, in the 
following words : " He shall also establish a cabinet of uiinerals, 
and other natural productions." The geology of the State is 
simple ; its "minerals " are few ; but the other " natural produc- 
tions " cover a wide and most important range. Florida rivals 
every other State in the variety of its animal and vegetable life. 
Owing to its semi-tropical climate, and the position of its terri- 
tory, being both peninsular and mainland, it produces a greater 
variety of valuable fruit and forest trees, vegetables, flowering 
and useful plants, also a larger number of species of birds, in- 
sects, fishes, marine shells, and reptiles, .than any of her sister 
States. Very few of our citizens are aware of these facts, nor of 
the unmeasured wealth which lies so near them, and which, if 
rightly comprehended, is quite Avithin the reach of all. 

A complete collection which shall exhibit this infinitude of 
form and nature to the inspection of any citizen or stranger, 
would be of great value. But this is only a small, and the least 
valuable part of the work. Establishing a Cabinet of Natural 
History, includes, of course, the naming of the individual speci- 
mens, their proper arrangement in cases for inspection, and a 
suitable descriptive publication. 

To enter upon this work in the manner which several States 
have undertaken a similar enterprise, would involve an expense 
beyond our means. The State of New York, for instance, ex- 
pended about a million of dollars in the publication, alone, of 
some thirty or forty splendid octavo volumes on her natural his- 
tory. But this was a pioneer work of great magnitude. The 
same results could be attained, at the present advanced stage of 
scientific knowledge, at a much smaller outlay. Massachusetts 
has expended upon engravings on the shells of that State some 
$7,000. California is now causing engravings to be made of the 
birds which inhabit that State, at a cost of "$10,000. Iowa, Illi- 
nois, and other Western States, with far less variety to develop 
than Florida, have long since moved in these matters. Even 
Chili, a poor South American State, has brought out some thirty 
octavo volumes, in a very costly style, on its natural history. 



11 

Kvcry Stjilc wliicli lias uiKlortakon tliis \vork has derived great 
l)enotit from it, and Chili is now feeling the pulsations of a new 
life in consequence of her enterju-isc in showing to the world the 
inducements which she presents. 

While in the North, 1 made it my business to investigate this 
subject, Avitli a view to ascertaining thj means by which the 
])roposed work could be accomplished on an economical, yet 
truly pi-actical and scientific basi*;. There are two methods by 
Avhicli this enterprise maybe executed: 

First. l>y employing a corps of eminent naturalists to work 
up anew the entire natural history of the State. 

Second. To co-oi)er[4te Avith some national institution, as the 
Smithsonian, Avhich is already the depository of many thousands 
of specimens, con-ectly named, and to supplement the Avork 
])erformed by such measures as may be necessary for the 
completion of the investigation in those departments Avhich are 
yet unfinished as applied to Florida. 

Of the tAvo plans, there can be no doubt that the second is the 
most economical, and the oidy one on Avhicli it Avould be advisa- 
l)le to enter. The first Avould involve, at the outset, an expendi- 
ture of twenty thousand dollars for a scientific library, and the 
employment of a corps of naturalists at many thoiLsands more ; 
and finally a publication Avhich, to correspond Avith the work 
in its dcA'cloped proportions, Avould cost some hundreds of 
thousands of dollars. No such an expenditure is necessary. 
The entire Avork can be accomplished under the second method 
for a less sum than would be absorbed by the expenses in one 
year under the first. By the latter it can be completed in four 
or five years, while a long period Avould be consumed by the 
former. 

Under the organization recommended, there should be em- 
ployed two collectors of specimens, one working in the Southern, 
the other in the Western and Northern portions of the State, 
Their salaries would amount to $800 or $1,000 a year each. 
Materials for preserving specimens would cost perhaps $400 
annually. The specimens should be forwarded to the Smithso- 
nian to be identified, named, and i-eturned, and duplicates ex- 
changed for others belonging to the State. The officers of the 
Smithsonian gave me encouragement that they Avould conduct 
this portion of the work Avithout expense to the State. There 
yet Avill remain the arranging in cases of the collection, at such 
place as the legislature may direct. It is respectfully submit- 
ted that tlie State University Avould be the proper depository 
for this valuable collection, in order that the students attending 
may haA'c the advantage which it would afford during their 
<?ourse of study. The publication of a descriptiA'e AA'ork, em- 



bracing in cuiivciiiont t'oria tiie ^leverui ik'i>:vi'tments of our nat- 
ural history, is, after all, the ohjcctive jioint, and the one from 
whicli tlie State would derive the most immediate and positive 
returns. 

Sucli a work need not be a reguhir scientific monograph. 
This would be too extensive and too costly, Avitliout commensu- 
rate advantages. On the other hand, a series of i)opular manu- 
als, sufficiently scientific, yet eminently practical, could be pro- 
duced in a short time on those departments of our natural histo- 
ry which are already well understood by the scientific world. 
These manuals should treat in a concise and compi*ehensivc 
manner of the known uses t© which the objects under considera- 
tion may be applied in the arts and scicfices, and their commer- 
cial values. In the instance of birds, animals and fishes, their 
qualities as articles of food, or for fertilizers, aiul the value of 
their products in an economic sense, shoidd be stated. A simi- 
lar analysis of the value and uses of the forest trees, tropical 
and semi-tropical fruits and vegetables, fibre-producing, medici- 
nal and other plants. In connection with the department of en- 
tomology, a description of insects Avhich are useful or injurious, 
their habits, and the means by Avhich their ravages may be ob- 
viated. The value of a work of this kind is beyond any esti- 
mate that could now be made upon it. When completed it 
would be a dej^ository of reliable information, to Avhich capital- 
ists and immigrants would resort when seeking investments for 
their wealth or homes for their families. 

These manuals should be illustrated Avith good wood-cuts, 
drawn from nature, and printed and bound in a substantial 
manner'. The officers of the Smithsonian Institution would 
superintend the preparation of the manuals, chai-ging the State 
only the actual cost incurred. The expense of jirej^aring the 
matter would vary in the different departments, but can be ac- 
complished for a moderate sum. It is estimated by eminently 
practical scientific gentlemen, that the entire natural history of 
Florida may be worked up and published in the manner proposed, 
in four or five years, at an annual outlay of from three thousand 
five hundred to five thousand dollars. 

Florida contains hundreds of thousands of acres of land that 
might be made as fertile as the fiimous valleys of the Nile or 
Mesopotamia, and to yield annual incomes of untold wealth, 
that do not produce to the individual a dollar of support, nor to 
the State a mill of income. No measure could be adopted that 
would tend to so rapid and successful development of these vast 
resources as the Avork under contemplation. 

C. Thurston Chase, 
Superintendent of Public Instruction. 



